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- 1 - MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF DANANG NGÔ THỊ BÍCH HÀ A STUDY OF PRE-SEQUENCES IN INVITATION IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE Field: THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Code: 60.22.15 M.A. THESIS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (A SUMMARY) Supervisor: TRAN QUANG HAI, Ph.D. DANANG – 2010 - 2 - The study has been completed at College of Foreign Languages, University of Danang Supervisor: TRAN QUANG HAI, Ph.D. Examiner 1: Assoc. Prof. Dr. TRAN VAN PHUOC Examiner 2: Assoc. Prof. Dr. LUU QUY KHUONG The thesis was defended at the Examination Council for the M.A. theses, University of Danang. Time: 22/10/2010 Venue: University of Danang The original of this thesis is accessible for the purpose of reference at: - Library of the College of Foreign Languages, University of Danang. - The Information Resources Center, University of Danang. - 3 - CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. RATIONALE Communication is the prerequisite to maintain social relationships, language is the most effective and practical means of communication. People use language to exchange information or convey their ideas or feelings such as ordering, promising, complaining etc and invitation is indispensable. To have successful conversations, each interlocutor has to perform some conversational principles such as the cooperative and the politeness principles. Among them, politeness plays an important role in making utterances in communicative process. Evenly, it also contribute in helping speakers decide whether or not to produce the first pair part of the base sequence in order to avoid failure in communication. When using invitations, most speakers especially Vietnamese may often use pre-sequence as a polite strategy as well as a safe strategy. We can take this example as a proof: A: Are you busy right now? (pre-sequences) B: No, why? A: I’m baking a cake now. Won’t you come over ? [54, p116] In this conversation, the speakers use pre-sequence to survey if their invitation can be accepted. If they receive a good sign from the hearers, they will continue to give the official invitation. In the case - 4 - of receiving a bad sign, they can save their invitation. Therefore, both the speakers and the hearers will not feel unpleasant, they still maintain the good relationship. Moreover, each language contains its specific cultural features of each country. People from different cultures are studying languages of other cultures, even it is absolutely different from their cultures. In many cases, non- native speakers and native speakers fail to understand each other that cause unpleasant, offensive problems although they have good wills. There are variety of ways that the speakers express the invitation. They are determined by cultural- based. The illocution force behind a particular invitation might differ completely from one culture to another. The learners invite their teachers to join a party and they say: Vietnamese: Sir, today, on the occasion of the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day, we have prepared a small party. We would like to invite you to our dinner. British: Could you please to come to our dinner for the celebration of the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day?[15, p47] We can see that Vietnamese use Pre-sequence to give a reason before they give an official invitation. It can be also seen as a polite strategy because it can express their respect to their teacher while the British do not use pre-sequence in their invitation. From the above example, it reveals that there is a different cultural thought patterns. - 5 - Therefore, it inevitably happens cross –culture when we communicate and in some cases the invitation fails. For these above reasons, I would like to choose “A study of pre- sequences in invitation in English and Vietnamese” as the topic of my M.A in the hope of making some contribution to the development of learners’ skills as well as the process of teaching and learning English when we have to deal with pre-sequences in invitation. 1.2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.2.1. Aims of the Study This study is carried out with the aim at helping the Vietnamese learners of English acquire knowledge of pre-sequences in invitation and use them more effective in appropriate situations. Moreover, the finding of the study will help the learner to use of pre-sequences in invitation effectively in communication. 1.2.2. Objectives of the Study In order to have a good insight into Pre-sequences in invitations, syntactic and functional features of Pre-sequences in invitation are analyzed carefully. - point out the most typical structures of Pre-sequences in invitations used in English and Vietnamese. - Analyze the functions of Pre-sequences of invitations in terms of strategy involving politeness. - 6 - - Contrast the syntactic and functional features of this speech act in English and Vietnamese to find out the similarities and differences between the two languages. - Suggest some implications of the findings for the teaching and learning of English and Vietnamese as foreign languages. 1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS The study will clarify the following questions: 1. What are the typical structures of Pre invitation sequences in English and Vietnamese? 2. What are the functional features of Pre-invitation sequences in English and Vietnamese? 3. What are the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese in the syntactic and functional features of Pre- invitation sequences? 1.4. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The author hope that the study will be able to provide useful knowledge to enable better use of PIs in cross – cultural communication in English and Vietnamese. The findings of the study can be the potential source for the teaching and learning PIs in English and Vietnamese in particular as foreign languages. 1.5. THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY This research is carried out by analysis the syntactic and functional features of pre-sequences in invitation in English and - 7 - Vietnamese. The analysis of the data collected from textbooks, short stories, novels and films. Within the scope of the study, response of invitation as well as non-verbal aspects such as facial expressions, tones and body language are not included. 1.6. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY The study is organized into five chapters: Chapter 1 is Introduction; Chapter 2 is Literature Review and Theoretical Background; Chapter 3 is Methodology and Procedure; Chapter 4 is Findings and Discussions; Chapter 5 is Conclusions CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 2.1. LITERATURE REVIEW Speech acts have been researched by many linguists, among of them are Yule and Cutting with many precious theories of this field. Cutting in “Pragmatics and Discourse” [28, p31-p39] discusses and points out the purposes of using pre-sequences. He states that Pre- sequences prepare the ground for a further sequence and signal the type of utterance to follow and they also be used with a negative- face-saving function Yule [50] in “Pragmatics” discusses in detail pre-sequences as pre-invitations, pre-requests, and pre-announcements. He states that the concept of face saving may be helpful in understanding how participants in an interaction inevitably understand more than is said - 8 - and the using pre-sequences considering as the perspective of politeness. In Vietnamese, Pre-invitation sequences were cursorily stated in the books “Ngữ Dụng học”(1998) by Nguyen Duc Dan. The author also mentions pre-sequences and considers them as conversational openings. He points out the functions of using pre-sequences such as surveying or making a favorable atmosphere before starting the conversation. Besides, there are some dissertations of Vietnamese learners about invitation and pre-invitation sequences and some related issues to our study which can be listed as Lưu Quý Khương [8,9] Trương Thị Ánh Tuyết [46], Nguyễn Quang [15]. 2.2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 2.2.1. Syntactic features 2.2.2. Speech act theory 2.2.3. Conversational theory 2.2.4. Politeness theory 2.2.5. Pre-sequences, Invitation and Pre-invitation 2.2.5.1. Pre-sequences According to Schegloff (1990)[43, p156] “one job pre- sequences are designed to do is to explore the likelihood that utterance being prefaced, and the action(s) it will do, will not be responded to in a disprefered way- will not for example be rejected”. - 9 - In other words, pre-sequences are used to help participants avoid embarrassing disprefered responses. 2.2.5.2. Definition of invitation The Oxford dictionary of English [45, p.961] defines “invite” (verb) as “to make a polite, formal, or friendly request to someone to go somewhere or to do something”. 2.2.5.3. Pre-sequences in invitation According to Yule [50, p133] “A Pre-invitation is an utterance before an invitation to check if an invitation can be made” Nguyễn Thiện Giáp [7, p87], Pre-sequences are called “những lời ướm trước”. He states that “Mở ñầu cuộc thoại thường có chức năng gây chú ý ñể ñối phương cảm thấy sẽ có một hoặc một chuỗi lời tiếp theo; những câu có tính chất thăm dò ñối phương về chủ thể, về quan hệ, về cách thức giao tiếp. Như vậy, những lời chào, những lời hô gọi, những lời thưa gửi, làm quen…là những lời mở ñầu”. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE 3.1. RESEARCH DESIGN The research is studied according to qualitative approach that is the combination between descriptive and contrastive methods to describe and analyze the syntactic and functional features of pre- invitation sequences in English and Vietnamese. The quantitative approach is also used in order to summarize the frequency of structures used for pre-invitation sequences. - 10 - 3.2. DATA COLLECTION The data used in the study were picked out from about 528 conversations from short stories, novels, books, films in both English and Vietnamese. 3.3. DATA ANALYSIS The samples collected were described qualitatively in terms of syntactic and functional features according to modern linguistic points of view in English and Vietnamese. The frequency of structures used for pre-invitation sequences was totalized basing on the quantitative method. The syntactic and functional features of pre-invitation sequences were then summarized in some tables. The contrastive method was applied to analyze the similarities and differences in the syntactic and functional features of pre- invitation sequences in the two languages. Some generalizations and implications were drawn out after the data analysis. 3.4. PROCEDURES Firstly, pre-invitation sequences in conversations were collected; secondly, the samples were categorized into groups on the basis of the syntactic features; thirdly, we analyzed the syntactic and functional features of pre-invitation sequences in both languages; fourthly, the similarities and differences of pre-invitation sequences in English and Vietnamese were identified and then summarized; fifthly, some implications for teaching and learning of pre-invitation - 11 - sequences for the Vietnamese learners of English as well as some other issues for further research were suggested after the conclusion was briefly reviewed. 3.5. VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY CHAPTER 4 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1. THE SYNTACTIC FEATURES OF PRE-INVITATION SEQUENCES IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE 4.1.1. The syntactic representation of pre-invitation sequences in English 4.1.1.1. Pre-invitation sequence as a word 4.1.1.2. Pre-invitation sequences as a sentence: Declaratives, Interrogatives, Imperatives, Exclamatives. - Declarative structure (positive declarative) - Interrogative statements: containing subtypes such as Yes/ No questions, Information questions, Declarative questions and Tag questions. Yes/ No question: including subtypes: Complete questions, Incomplete questions Information questions (17) M: What’s your plan today? An: I can’t decide what to do M: How about visiting the Great Wall with me?[55, p99] - 12 - Declarative Questions (20) Blade: You getting tired? Jean: Uh, he’s got so much energy he wears me out sometimes. Blade: Could I take you out to lunch? [102] Tag questions: Its significance of a question comes from the tag, which has the construction of an auxiliary a predicator followed by a personal pronouns as the subject. (19) Sylvia: You like salad, don’t you? The man: Yes Sylvia: I’ll make a nice salad. Come! [61, p193] - Imperative: beginning with a verb or verb phrase and exist in both affirmative and negative forms. 4.1.1.2. Pre-invitation sequences one more sentence 4.1.2. The syntactic representation of pre-invitation sequences in Vietnamese 4.1.2.1. Pre-invitation sequence as a phrase 4.1.2.2. Pre-invitation sequences as a sentence: Declaratives, Interrogatives, Imperatives, Exclamatives. - Declaratives: two forms : affirmative and negative statements. Negative statements in Vietnamese are typically formed with words which have negative meanings such as “chả”, “chẳng”. - 13 - (34) Người nhà quê: Chả mấy khi gặp người tử tế như ông, nếu ông không cho tôi ñược cảm ơn, thì tôi ân hận mãi. Nào, mời ông, xin ông ñừng từ chối, phụ lòng tôi. [70, p499] - Interrogative statements: containing subtypes such as Yes/ No questions, Information questions, Declarative questions and Tag questions and Alternative questions. Yes/ No question: including subtypes: Complete questions, Incomplete questions. Their structures contain auxiliary verbs namely be, have, do/does before the subject of the sentence. Information questions: the form of statement with indefinite words in their proper positions where the required information goes in declarative sentences: Cái gì, ở ñâu, nơi nào, khi nào, lúc nào, ai, tại sao, cái nào, thứ nào, như thế nào, ra sao, sao, bao lâu, bao xa, mấy giờ….They are also added some final particles such as nhỉ, chứ, thế, vậy… (41) Hạnh: Bây giờ bạn ñịnh ñi ñâu? Văn Châu: Đi về Hạnh: Hay là bạn ghé qua nhà Hạnh chơi chốc nữa hẳn về. [63, p688] Declarative Questions: appearing in the affirmative form without final particles - 14 - Tag questions: In tag question, normally, we can find out the phrases “ phải không, có phải không, ñược không, ñúng không” in the position of the end in the sentences. Alternative questions: containing two polar questions combined by coordinator “hay, hay là” - Exclamatives: The final particles are found out in the sentences “nhỉ, thay, lắm, thế” or interjections “ôi!, ồ!, trời!, quý hóa quá! ủa”…and some adverbs such as “ghê, quá, biết bao” - Imperatives: The prototypical imperatives have no subject or a finite 4.1.2.3. PIs more than one sentence 4.1.3. Similarities and differences of syntactic representation of pre-invitation sequences in English and Vietnamese 4.1.3.1. Similarities 4.1.3.2. Differences 4.2. THE FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OF PRE-INVITATION SEQUENCES IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE 4.2.1. The functional representation of pre-invitation sequences in English 4.2.1.1. Surveying: Pre-invitation sequences with surveying function are seen as an expression of the speaker’s intention. Through it, he/she can search the hearer’s plans, intentions, attitude, hope… - 15 - 4.2.1.2. Notifying (74) A: I’m going to an art exhibition this Saturday. B: Sound great. A: Would you like to go with me? [52, p472] 4.2.1.3. Reasoning 4.2.1.4. Confirming (78) A: Are you done with that article yet? B: Just finished. Why? A: Well, wanna take a break and go for a ride? [122] 4.2.1.5. Persuading 4.2.1.6. Advertising 4.2.1.7. Introducing: The speaker introduces themselves to the listener before making an invitation so that the hearer knows who he/she is. In addition to, identifying the speaker makes the belief to the hearer. 4.2.1.8. Showing the honor to the listener: (86) Playist: It’d really mean a lot to us if you come over a little early and we got to go to over some leads Blade: Um… Playist: Please join with the band [102] 4.2.1.9. Explaining 4.2.1.10. Suggesting - 16 - 4.2.1.11. Drawing the hearer’s attention: This function of pre- invitation sequences can be found in the situations which the speakers call the hearer’s name or giving a sign of starting a conversation so that the hearer concentrates what they are going to talk next. 4.2.1.12. Giving one’s idea (commenting 4.2.1.13. Advising: The function advising in the Pre-invitation sequence helps the listeners to realize what they should to do. 4.2.1.14. Showing one’s desire 4.2.1.15. Reminding a good experience (95) Salli: Do you remember when we went to Robert Frost’s cabin? The man: Yes, I do and surely I did. Salii: Well, when you come back from Missouri, I’d like us togo to Robert Frost’s cabin again. [62, p79] 4.2.1.16. Warning 4.2.1.17. Showing a good will to the hearer. 4.2.2. The functional features of pre-invitation sequences in Vietnamese 4.2.2.1. Surveying (99) Kinh: Biết hút thuốc lá không nào? Khuê: Có ạ Kinh: Đây, ông hút thuốc lá, mình hút thuốc lào.[69, p297] - 17 - 4.2.2.2. Notifying: The speakers want the listeners to get information or news so that the hearers can understand or guess what the speakers want to say later. 4.2.2.3. Reasoning 4.2.2.4. Confirming (111) Bà cụ: Nói thế chứ những thứ này cậu Phán ăn sao ñược? Cậu có ăn thì lại vào cao lâu. Cậu Phán: Cao lâu cũng không ngon bằng hàng của cụ. Bà cụ: Vậy cậu mua ñi cho tôi vài hào. [66, p271] 4.2.2.5. Advertising (115) Nga: Đậu phụ vẫn còn nóng, trắng mịn chẳng khác gì hàng ñậu ngon ở nhà ñâu anh ạ. Anh lấy mấy bìa mở hàng, em ñể rẻ cho. [88, p314] 4.2.2.6. Persuading 4.2.2.7. Giving one’s ideas (commenting (121) A: Ở Hà Nội mà không biết bún mọc thì tẩm lắm, Phượng ạ. Phượng: Nhưng mà… A: Nhưng mà cái gì! Tôi khao! [83, p171] 4.2.2.8. Warning (128) Lão Sếnh: Ông sợ mất chức phó chủ tịch nên không dám hút? Nhưng thế không hợp mệnh trời ñâu, ông Giàng Súng ạ. - 18 - Giàng Súng: Làm gì có. Lão Sếnh: Thế thì mời cụ phó chủ tịch ạ. Bỏ thuốc phiện thì con mèo, con gián, con mối nhà tôi nó cũng phản ñối ñấy. [82, p513] 4.2.2.9. Showing the honor to the listener (133) Bẩm các cụ, chả mấy khi các cụ có lòng chiếu cố ñến chơi nhà chúng cháu. Gọi là có chén rượu nhạt, xin rước các cụ cứ thật thà ñi cho. [66, p133] 4.2.2.10. Showing the good will to the hearer 4.2.2.11. Explaining 4.2.2.12. Advising (140) Việt: Tuyết rơi dày như thế này có lẻ chị và cháu không về ñược ñâu. Cháu Nam lại dang sốt, nhất ñịnh ra ngoài sẽ rất nguy hiểm. Hai mẹ con nên nghĩ lại ñây. Đừng ngại. [88, p323] 4.2.2.13. Reminding a good experience 4.2.2.14. Suggesting 4.2.2.15. Introducing (144) Kiều Vân: Chào cô Xuân, cho phép tôi ñược giới thiệu Tôi là Kiều Vân phụ trách tài chính ở ñây. Cô Xuân: Chào cô Kiều Vân. Kiều Vân: Trưa nay chị có rảnh không vậy? Tôi mời chị ñi ăn trưa ñể chúng ta làm quen. [107] - 19 - 4.2.2.16. Showing one’s desire 4.2.2.17. Drawing the hearer’s attention 4.2.3. Similarities and differences of functional representation of Pre-invitation sequence in English and Vietnamese Table 4.9: Summary of relative frequency ( % ) of functional representation of Pre-invitation sequences in English and Vietnamese Types of function English language Vietnamese language Number Frequency (%) Number Frequency (%) 1. Surveying 65 24.41 48 18.32 2. Notifying 46 17.27 36 13.74 3. Reasoning 38 14.26 27 10.3 4. Confirming 31 11.63 24 9.16 5. Persuading 17 6.37 19 7.25 6. Advertising 16 6.01 22 8.39 7. Introducing 13 4.81 4 1.51 8. Showing the honor to the listener 10 3.71 11 4.19 9. Explaining 9 3.36 9 3.43 10. Suggesting 8 3.00 5 1.90 11. Drawing the hearer’s attention 5 1.83 1 0.39 12. Giving one’s idea 4 1.49 15 5.72 - 20 - 13. Advising 1 0.37 8 3.05 14. Reminding a good experience 1 0.37 8 3.05 15. Showing one’s desire 1 0.37 1 0.39 16. Warning 1 0.37 14 5.34 17. Showing a good will to the hearer. 1 0.37 10 3.81 Total 266 100 262 100 4.2.3.1. Similarities 4.2.3.2. Differences CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS 5.1. CONCLUSIONS With the result of data analysis and the comparison of similarities and differences in Pre-invitation sequence in both languages English and Vietnamese, I would like to make some final remarks and implications in reference to their syntax and function. 1. Syntactically At first, Pre-invitation sequences in both languages can appear in many structures. For instance, a word, a sentence and more than one sentence. In addition, PIs as a sentence have many forms such as Declaratives, Interrogatives, Imperatives, Exclamatives. It means that PIs are popularly used in English and Vietnamese Furthermore, mood relates the proposition to its context in speech event. Each mood type is basically associated with an